Tank type suction cleaner



Sept. 29, 1964 a. E. NILSSON 3,150,403

TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Filed March 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY i I Sept. 29, 1964 a. E. NILSSON TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1960 INVENTOR.

Sept. 29, 1964 B. E. NILSSON TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed March 22, 1960 Sept. 29, 1964 s. E. NILSSON 3,150,403

TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Filed March 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,159,403 TAN'K TYPE SUCTION CLEANER Bengt Erik Nilsson, Hagersten, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Eiectrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,834 Claims priority, application Sweden Mar. 24, 195? 9 Claims. (Cl. 15327) This invention relates generally to suction or vacuum cleaners, and is particularly directed to improvements in suction or vacuum cleaners of the horizontal tank type which include a housing of generally tubular form having asuction opening at one end and a discharge opening at the opposite end, a motor-fan unit in the housing operative to produce a flow of air from the inlet opening through the housing to the discharge opening, and a porous dust collector bag in the housing for removing dust from the air flow.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the described character having a simplified, easily assembled and relatively inexpensive construction, and which further facilitates the movement of thehousing over a floor during use of the vacuum cleaner.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner of the described character is provided with floor engaging wheels which are supported directly from a motor-fan unit assembly disposed in the rear portion of the housing of the vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, from a support member forming a part of that assembly and defining a muffler for the air exhausted from the motor-fan unit, so that the tubular housing of the vacuum cleaner can be given a relatively light weight shell construction by reason of the fact that the major portion of the weight of the vacuum cleaner represented by the motor-fan unit assembly is supported directly by the floor engaging Wheels.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is additionally supported by a shockabsorbing slide shoe or bumper projecting downward from the housing adjacent the end thereof remote from the floor engaging wheels and being shaped in a manner to facilitate the movement of the vacuum cleaner over doorsills and the like, while a slide rail extends rearwardly along the bottom of the housing in order to avoid abrasion or other damage to the relatively fragile material of the housing shell during movement over the sills or other upward projections on the floor.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, but with the housing thereof being partly broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a front end elevational view, with the front cover of the housing being partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bag holder included in the vacuum cleaner embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view in a vertical plane of the front and rear portions of the vacuum cleaner embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a support member forming part of a motor fan unit assembly included in the vacuum cleaner embodying the invention, and with one of the ground engaging wheels which are rotatably mounted on that support member being shown in an exploded view which is partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a slide rail and shock-absorber assembly which 3,150,493 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 Ice is intended to be mounted at the bottom of the housing of the vacuum cleaner embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the slide rail and shockabsorber in assembled condition;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lower surface of the rear end portion of the slide rail of FIGS. 6 and 7 and illustrating the manner in which a nameplate or the like is mounted therein;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 1, and showing one of the locking devices by which the removable front cover of the vacuum cleaner is secured to the housing thereof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner as viewed from a location in front and below the same;

FIG. 11 is also a perspective view of the vacuum clean er, but as viewed from a location to the rear of, and above the same; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational View of the vacuum cleaner embodying the invention, but on a smaller scale, and with the vacuum cleaner being disposed in its vertical storage position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1, 4, 10 and 11 thereof, it will be seen that a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10 includes a housing 11 formed by an elongated thin-walled tubular casing orshell 12, a removable front cover 13 and a removable rear cover 14. In the normal position of use of the vacuum cleaner 10, the housing 11 is disposed with the axis of its tubular casing or shell 12 extending substantially horizontally, as in FIGS. 1 and 4. A perforated transverse partition wall 15, extending across the tubular casing 12 intermediate the opposite ends of the latter, dividesthe interior of the housing into a front compartment 16, which is intended to receive a cloth filter bag 17 and a disposable dust collector bag 18 of porous paper, and a rear compartment 19 which accommodates a motor-fan unit assembly generally identified by the reference numeral 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the motor-fan unit assembly 28 includes a fan or blower contained in a sheet metal housing 21 having an air inlet opening at the front thereof, an electric motor 22 suitably secured to the back end of the fan housing 21 for driving the fan or blower, with the air exhausted by the latter passing through, and cooling the motor and then being discharged at an air outlet 23 at the back end of the motor, and a support member which is generally identified by the reference numeral 24 and which serves as the main frame structure of the vacuum cleaner 10 as well as a mufiler element for deadening the sound of the air exhausted from the motor-fan unit during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The support member 24, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, is conveniently formed, as by casting, from a rigid, preferably light-weight metal, such as, aluminum or magnesium, or from a rigid plastic material, and includes a rim 25 shaped to fit into the rear end portion of the casing 12 and having a substantially planar wall 26 extending inward therefrom. A circular flange 27 extends axially forward from the wall 26 and is formed, at circumferentially spaced apart locations, with hollow bosses 28 which open at the rear face of the wall 26, as at 29 (FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 4, a circular metal mounting ring 3% extends around the motor 22 with a substantial radial clearance therebetween and is formed with tapped bores 31 extending axially through the ring 30 in alignment with the hollow bosses 28 to receive mounting screws 32 having their heads disposed within the hollow bosses 28 for securing the mounting ring 30 to the support member 24. A rubber or piastic diaphragm 33 is formed with a thick ened outer edge portion 34 which seats between the mounting ring 30 and the front edge of the flange 27, thereby to provide an elastic support and seal between the ring 30 and the support member 24, while the inner edge portion of the resilient diaphragm 33 extends axially rearward and is radially thickened, as at 35, to fit tightly aroundthe housing or casing of the motor 22 against a rearwardly facing shoulder 36 formed on the latter.

The assembly of the blower or fan casing 21 and the motor 22 is supported from the mounting ring 30 by three resilient suspensions 37 which are equally spaced apart circumferentially. As shown in FIG. 4, each suspension 37 may include a rigid bracket 38 extending radially outward from the assembly of the fan casing 21 and motor 22 in front of the ring 30 and having an aperture 39, a bolt 40 loosely extending through the aperture 39 from the ring 30, and conical springs 41 and 42 extending around the bolt 40 at the opposite sides of the bracket 38 and respectively bearing against the head of the bolt 40 and against a lock nut 43 which secures the bolt 40 relative to the ring 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the one-piece support member 24 includes a forwardly opening boxlike structure extending rearward from the planar wall 26, such box-like structure having a top wall 44, a bottom wall 45, and opposite side walls 46 and 47 formed with a continuous shoulder 48 at their rear edges (FIG. A back wall 49 extends downward from the top wall 44 between the side walls 46 and 47 and is spaced forward from the rear edges of the top wall and side walls. The back wall 49 terminates above the bottom wall 45 in a forwardly directed scoop-like extension 50 which is narrower than the distance between the side walls 46 and 47, so that a channel 51 (FIG. 4) is defined between'the ho I tom and side surfaces of the scoop-like extension 50 and the bottom wall 45 and the lower portions of the side walis 46 and 47, respectively. The support member 24 is further formed with rearwardly opening tapped bosses 52 contiguous to the outer surfaces of the side walls 46 and 47 (FIGS. 1 and 5) and adapted to receive screws 53 (FIG. 11) by which the rear cover 14 is secured to the support member 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the removable rear cover 14 has a back wall 54 formed with a forwardly projecting rib 55. adapted to seat against the shoulder 48 of the support member 24 so as to be spaced rearward from back wall 49, and the rear cover further has forward directed side, top and bottom walls which abut, at their front edges, against the rim of the support member 24. The back wall 54 of rear cover 14 further has an air outlet opening 56 which is disposed immediately below the portion of rib 55 engaging the top wall 44 of the support member 24. The support member 24 is dimensioned so that the air outlet 23 of the motor 22 supported therefrom opens into the box-like structure defined by top wall 44, side walls 46 and 47, back wall 49 and the scoop-like extension 50.

Accordingly, the air exhausted by the fan in casing 21 and discharged through the outlet 23 after flowing through the motor 22 for cooling the latter, is turned forward by impingement against the back wall 49. The forward flow of the air is limited by the diaphragm 33 extending between the motor 22 and the flange 27 of support member 24, so that the direction of flow of the air is again reversed, and the air then flows rearward through the channel 51 into the space 57 defined by the back wall 49 of support member 24 and the back Wall 54 of rear cover 14, for upward flow through such space 57 to the outlet opening 56. Thus, the air exhausted from the motor-fan unit follows a tortuous path prior to discharge through the outlet opening 56, thereby to mufile or deaden the sound or noise during operation of the vacuum cleaner.

The top wall 44 of support member 24 has an opening 58 therein (FIGS. 4 and 5) through which wires (not shown) can extend to the motor 22 from a terminal block 59 mounted on top wall 44, and a motor control switch '60 is carried by the terminal block 59 and has an operating button 61 projecting upward through a suitable open- 7 ing in the top wall of rear cover 14 (FIG. 4).

As previously indicated, the rear end portion of tubular casing or shell 12 telescopes over the rim 25 of support member 24 and is suitably secured thereto, as by screws (not shown), and a seal retainer 62 (FIG. 4) of substantially Z-shaped cross section extends around the inner surface of casing 12 adjacent its rear edge and is secured thereto, as by welding. A rubber seal 63 is received by retainer 62 and abuts against the forward edge of the rim 25.

The forward end edge of the casing or shell 12 is suitably secured to a reinforcing ring 64 which is.formed with a peripheral seat 65 for the removable front cover 13 and also with a forwardly facing shoulder 66 which is disposed inward with respect to the seat 65. As is apparent in FIG. 4, the open mouth of the cloth filter bag 17 is suitably secured to a metal mouth ring 67 which has a peripheral rubber sealing ring 68 adapted to be clamped between the front cover 13 and the shoulder 66 of the reinforcing ring 64. The mouth ring 67 of the cloth filter bag is shaped to define a forwardly facing shoulder 69 which is disposed radially inward with respect to the sealing ring 68 and forms a seat for the outer periphery of a bag holdergenerally identified by the reference numeral '76.

As is apparent FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag holder 70 includes concentric circular inner and outerrirns 71 and 72 connected by spaced apart radial spokes 73 to define openings 74 therebtween. The bag holder 70 is preferably formed of a plastic which is slightly resilient and is symmetrical about a medial plane which passes through the spokes 73 perpendicular to the axis of the concentric circular rims 71 and 72. The inner rim 71 has identical, axially opening annular grooves 75 and 76 in its opposite side faces (FIG. 4). The removable front cover 13 has a centrally located inlet opening 77 which is adapted for connection to a suction hose (not shown) and is generally in the form of an open ended tube with a rearwardly directed circular rib 78 extending around its back end and adapted to engage in either the groove 76, as shown in FIG. '4, or in the groove 75 of the bag holder 70.

The porous paper dust collector bag 18 is installed within the cloth filter bag 17 with its mouth portion extending forward through the opening of the inner rim 71 of bag holder 79 and then radially outward across the side of the rim 71 facing in the forward direction. When the front cover 13 is installed on the reinforcing ring 64 of the. shell or casing 12 and locked in position, as hereinafter described in detail, the outer rim 72 of bag holder 70 is held against the shoulder 69 of the mouth ring 67 of the cloth filter bag and the rib 78 of front cover 13 urges the rim 71 of the resilient bag holder 70 in the rearward direction, and thereby tightly clamps the mouth por tion of the paper bag 18 between the rib 78 and the groove 76 or 75, whichever is then facing in the direction toward the front cover. By reason of the symmetrical formation; of the bag holder 70, the latterwill perform its necessary function of clamping the mouth portion of the paper bag 18 whether the bag holder is installed with the groove 75 or the groove 76 facing toward the removable front cover.

The front cover 13 is removably secured to the front end of the casing or shell 12 by releasable locking devices which are disposed at the opposite sides of the front end portion of the housing 11 and are generally identified by the reference numerals 79 (FIGS. 1, 2, 10 and 11). As shown in FIG. 9, each of the locking devices 79 includes a hollow bracket 80 fixedly secured, as by rivets S1, to the related side of the casing or shell 12 adjacent the forward end of the latter and having elongated slots 82 through which a pivot pin 83 slidably extends. A compression spring 84 is disposed within the hollow bracket 30 and bears against the forward end of the latter and against the pivot pin 83 to urge the latter in the rearward direction along the slots 82. A toggle link 85 is pivotally mounted,

at one end, on the pin 83 and, at its other end, carries a pivot pin 86 on which one end of an elongated, hollow locking member 87 is pivotally mounted. The opposite end of the locking member 37 is formed with a nose 38 that is adapted to engage a forward facing seat 89 defined by a recess 90 formed in the related side edge portion of the removable cover 13. The pivoted end of the locking member 87 is formed with an undercut end portion 91 defining a finger grip or hold by which the locking member 87 can be pulled outward away from the adjacent side of easing or shell 12, thereby to pivot the toggle link 85 about pin 83 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9, which pivotal movement of the toggle link causes forward displacement of the locking member 87 for releasing its nose 88 from the seat 89.

When the front cover 13 is to be secured on the casing or shell 12, the nose of the locking member 87 of each of the locking devices 79 is initially engaged with the related seat 89 while the toggle link 85 extends laterally out- Ward from the adjacent side of the shell or casing. Then, the pivoted end of the locking member 87 is moved inward toward the casing or shell 12 causing pivoting of the toggle link 85 to the position shown in FIG. 9 where the spring 84 acts rearward on the pivot pin 83 and thereby also tends to displace the locking member 87 in the rearward direction for tightly securing the front cover 13 on the casing or shell 12. It will be apparent that, in the locked position of the hollow locking member 87, the bracket containing the spring 84 and the toggle link are contained within the hollow locking member, and thus hidden from view. The locking member 37 further preferably has a rubber insert 92 in its forward portion acting as a bumper for the forward corners of the vacuum cleaner housing 11.

In order to support the vacuum cleaner 10 during its movement over the floor in a substantially horizontal position, the vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention further includes two floor engaging wheels 93 which project downward and rearward from suitable openings or cutouts 94 provided in the bottom portion of the rear cover 14. As is shown clearly in FIG. 5, the wheels 93 are rotatably mounted on the opposite end portions of an axle 95 which is mounted in openings 96 formed in the lower portions of the side walls 46 and 47 of the box-like structure at the back of the support member 24. Thus, the major portion of the weight of the vacuum cleaner 10 which is represented by the motor-fan unit assembly 20 is supported directly by the floor engaging wheels 93, thereby making it possible to employ the illustrated lightweight construction for the shell or casing 12 of the housing 11 which does not need to transmit the substantial loads resulting from the weight of the assembly 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the floor engaging wheels 93 preferably includes two identical metal discs 97 which can be stamped or fabricated with the same die and which each have a central opening 98 with an inwardly directed axial flange 99 extending therearound for rotatable mounting on an end portion of the axle 95. The peripheral edge portions of the metal discs 97 are embedded or vulcanized in a tire 100 of natural or synthetic rubber. Each wheel 93 may be retained on the related end portion of the axle 95 by a snap ring 1%1 engaging in a groove 102 formed in the axle 95 adjacent the related end of the latter.

The forward end of the housing 11 of the vacuum cleaner 10 is supported in its horizontal or normal position of use by a slide shoe which is disposed at the bottom of the forward portion of the casing or shell 12 and generally identified by the reference numeral 103 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 10). As shown particularly in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7,

the slide shoe 103 is preferably a shock absorber and in- 12, as by screws 107 (FIG. 10) and has an opening 108 (FIG. 6) through which the cap 104 can project downwardly. The periphery of the cap 104 is formed with an outwardly directed rim or flange 109 which is larger than the opening 103 of the plate frame 106 and thereby limits the downward movement of the cap 104 relative to the plate frame. Upward movement of the cap 104 is resiliently resisted by the damping member which, at its upper surface, preferably bears against the forward end of a slide rail 110 extending longitudinally along the bottom of the casing or shell 12 from Within the plate frame 106 to a location adjacent the wheels 93. The slide rail 110 provides a reinforcement along the bottom of the relatively fragile shell or casing 12 to receive the loads transferred from the floor engaging cap 104 by the resilient damping member 105 and also is preferably formed with longitudinal, downwardly directed ribs 111 which project the bottom of the casing 12 from abrasion or other damage when the casing slides over a doorsill or other projection extending from the floor.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap 104 has a slightly inward convex front portion 112 which is inclined upward toward the edge of the cap so as to facilitate sliding of the latter over a doorsill or the like, a generally fiat central portion 113 which is inclined at a. smaller angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing 12 so as to facilitate the movement of the housing over rugs or other soft surfaces, and a rather steepinclined rear portion 114 which provides for the gradual lowering of the slide shoe 103 from a doorsill or other projection over which the latter has traveled. Preferably, the rear portion 114 of cap 104 is formed with an opening 115 adapted to receive a hook or the like mounted on a wall for suspending the housing 12 in a Vertical position from such hook.

The rear end portion of the slide rail 110 is preferably formed with a. downwardly opening recess 116 (FIGS. 7 and 8) adapted to receive a nameplate 117 or the like, and with tabs 113 struck from the slide rail 110 at the corners of the recess 116 in order to engage the corner portions of the nameplate 117 for retaining the latter within the recess 116.

A carrying handle 119 extends transversely across the top of the housing 11 at a location that is disposed approximately one-third of the total length of the housing from the forward end thereof so that the handle 119 is well in front of the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 10. Thus, when the vacuum cleaner is carried by the handle 119, the housing 11 naturally assumes a steep inclined position with its rear end lowermost, thereby to facilitate the movement through door openings and the turning in confined spaces While carrying the vacuum cleaner. The handle 119 is mounted, at its opposite ends, on supports 120 which extend obliquely downward and rearward therefrom in the operative horizontal position of the housing 11 so that the front edges of such supports 120 and the top surface of the casing or shell 12 include acutely angled, V-shaped notches 121 (FIGS. 1 and 12). Further, by reason of the downwardly and rearwardly inclined direction of the handle supports 120, the handle 119 may be disposed in its relatively forward position, as previously described, while the lower ends of the handle supports 120 engage the casing or shell 12 and are attached to the latter at locations adjacent the partition 15 which reinforces the otherwise relatively fragile construction of the casing or shell. Further, as is apparent in FIG. 11, the handle supports 120, at their lower ends, are contiguous to rearwardly extending strip 122 which are secured along the top of the casing or shell 12 and thereby distribute the carrying loads to a substantial area of the casing, and particularly to the portion of the latter mounted on the support member 24.

In order to support the housing 11 of the vacuum cleaner in a vertical storage position, as in FIG. 12, the corners of the rear cover 14 remote from the cutouts 94 receiving the wheels 93 are formed with projections or feet '123 which appear as extensionsof the strips 122 and extend rearward of the back wall 54 of rear cover 14 in the operative or horizontal position of the housing. The feet 123 cooperate with the wheels 93 to engage the floor and thereby support the housing 11 when the latter is turned to its vertical storage position as shown in FIG. 12. Further, it will be seen that the projections 1 23 define generally V-shaped notches 124 at the back of the rear cover 14 so that the usual electric cable or cord 125 (FIG. 12) can be wound around the housing 11 in the notches 121 defined by the handle supports 129 and the top of the casing and in the notches 124 during storage of the vacuum cleaner. The notches 124 defined by the projections or legs 123 are sufficiently deep so that, when the cable 125 is disposed in such notches, the cable will not interfere with the engagement of the legs 123 with the floor or other supporting surface, as in FIG. 12.

or operative position, the front cover 13 of the housing is preferably provided, at the bottom, and at the opposite sides of the suction or inlet opening 77, with rearwardly inclined deflecting surfaces 126 and 127, respectively (FIGS. 1- and while the upper portion of the cover 13 extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 11 is retracted behind a protective edge 128. Further, since the wheels 93 are disposed within the lateral confines of the housing 11, such wheels cannot be engaged by furniture or other obstacles to impede the forward movement of the housing. 7

It will be appreciated that, by reason of the fact that the housing 11 is normally pulled forward in its operative or normal horizontal position by a suction hose connected in the suction opening 77 at the front end of the housing while the floor engaging wheels 93 are disposed at the rearmost end of the housing in back of the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner, while the assembly representing the major portion of the weight is cradled between the wheels 93 through the mounting of thelaxle 95 of the support member 24 forming a part of the motorfan unit assembly, the floor engaging support for the housing 11 provided by the wheels 93 and the slide shoe or other projection along a path which is not at right angles to such doorsill.

Further, it will be apparent that the described arrangement of the vacuum cleaner 10 embodying the present invention permits the attainment of substantial economies in the construction thereof, particularly with respect to the structure of the housing 11, while simultaneously achieving functional advantages that have been specifically mentioned in the foregoing detailed description.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that'the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the inven- What is claimed is:

1. In a horizontal tank-type suction cleaner having an t inlet and outlet for air at opposite ends thereof, means 'being mounted on said transverse wall, said second part projecting lengthwise of the cleaner toward the inlet in between said second and third parts, a partition carried by said third part which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing and with said third part defines the bottom of a compartment at the side of said transverse wall opposite to that of said second part, means for supporting said motor-fan unit on said second part at a region thereof between the inlet and said transverse wall with said motor extending through the opening in the latter into said com- 'partment, said third part having spaced apart vertically disposed portions, and means for supporting the cleaner in a horizontally extending position on a surface including rotatable means journaled on the vertically disposed portions of said third part in a plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of said casing and spaced from said transverse wall.

2. Apparatus as set forth in clairnl in which the cleaner includes an end .cover having a closed end formed with an opening serving as the outlet and an open end having 'a cross-sectional area substantially the same as that of said casing at its open end, said end cover at its open end being mounted on said first part of said unitary supporting structure, and said end cover including structure spaced from said partition to provide a passage therebetween, said partition having a region thereof spaced from said third part to form a gap therebetween, and said passage at one end thereof communicating with the outlet and at the other end thereof communicating with said compartment at the gap.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said rotatable means comprises a pair of rotatable'members respectively journaled on the vertically disposed portions of said third part, each of said rotatable members being positioned closely adjacent to and exteriorly of a different one of said vertically disposed portions, and said end cover having notched regions at its closed end to receive said rotatable members, portions of said end cover at the vicinities of said notched regions overlying said rotatable members.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the cleaner inciudes an end cover having a closed end formed with an opening serving as the outlet and an open end having a cross-sectional area substantially the same as that of said casing at its open end, said end cover at its open end being mounted on said first part of said unitary supporting structure, said rotatable means comprising a pair of rotatable members respectively journaled on the vertically disposed portions of said third part, each of said rotatable members being positioned closely adjacent to and exteriorly of adiiferent one of said vertically disposed portions, and said end cover having notched regions at its closed end to receive said rotatable members, portions of said end cover at the vicinities of said notched regions overlying said rotatable members,

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said third part of annular form has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of said second part, said partition having a lip portion thereof extending lengthwise of the cleaner toward said transverse wall and terminating at a region spaced from said third part to form a gap therebetween, an end cover having a closed end serving as, the outlet and an open end having a cross-sectional area-substantially the same as that of said casing at itsopen end, said end cover at its open end being mounted on said first part of said unitary supporting structure, and said end cover including structure spaced from said partition to provide a passage therebetween, said passage at one end thereof communicating With the outlet and at the other end thereof communicating with said compartment at the gap defined in part by the lip portion of said partition.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said third part at the top thereof is formed with an opening, a terminal block positioned in said opening, and an end cover mounted on said first part of said unitary supporting structure, said end cover and said third part providing a space therebetween to house at least a part of said terminal block.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said rotatable means comprises a pair of rotatable members respectively journaled on the vertically disposed portions of said third part at regions thereof exteriorly of said compartment, each of said rotatable members being positioned adjacent to and exteriorly of a difierent one of said vertically disposed portions.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said supporting means for the cleaner includes a body of elastic material at the bottom of said casing at a region thereof remote from said unitary supporting structure, and means for holding said elastic body in place comprising a sheet of material overlying and in intimate physical contact with said body.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said supporting means for the cleaner includes a stationary member fixed to the bottom of said casing at a region thereof remote from said unitary supporting structure along which the cleaner can slide on a supporting surface, and said stationary slide member being so constructed and arranged that it provides a catch at its exterior surface for hanging the cleaner vertically on a hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,885 Bilde May 31, 1932 2,022,249 Lofgren Nov. 26, 1935 2,107,819 Faber Feb. 8, 1938 2,237,499 Osterdahl Apr. 8, 1941 2,287,474 Hansson June 23, 1942 2,291,353 Seyfried July 28, 1942 2,311,369 Clements Feb. 16, 1943 2,372,007 Kroenlein Mar. 20, 1945 2,418,130 Lofgren Apr. 1, 1947 2,438,133 Sparklin Mar. 23, 1948 2,582,219 Ardito et al Jan. 15, 1952 2,696,894 Forsberg Dec. 14, 1954 2,729,303 McMahan Jan. 3, 1956 2,833,372 Lappin et a1 May 6, 1958 2,860,725 Carl et al. Nov. 18, 1958 2,867,834 Kelly Jan. 13, 1959 2,888,093 Wahlborg et a1. May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 160,360 Sweden Sept. 10, 1957 311,776 Switzerland Feb. 15, 1956 

1. IN A HORIZONTAL TANK-TYPE SUCTION CLEANER HAVING AN INLET AND OUTLET FOR AIR AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, MEANS COMPRISING A MOTOR-FAN UNIT DISPOSED LENGTHWISE OF THE CLEANER FOR CIRCULATING AIR THERETHROUGH, SAID UNIT INCLUDING A MOTOR AND A FAN DRIVEN THEREBY, SAID CLEANER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CASING HAVING AN OPEN END, UNITARY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PARTS, SAID FIRST PART PROVIDING A TRANSVERSE WALL SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CASING AND HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF SAID CASING AT ITS OPEN END, THE CASING AT ITS OPEN END BEING MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSVERSE WALL, SAID SECOND PART PROJECTING LENGTHWISE OF THE CLEANER TOWARD THE INLET IN ONE DIRECTION FROM THE TRANSVERSE WALL, SAID SECOND PART BEING OF ANNULAR FORM AND OF SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN THAT OF SAID CASING AND BEING IN TELESCOPIC RELATION WITH SAID CASING AT ITS OPEN END, SAID THIRD PART PROJECTING LENGTHWISE OF THE CLEANER TOWARD THE OUTLET IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM THE TRANSVERSE WALL, SAID THIRD PART BEING 